Choosing travel clothes is a challenging task for fashion divas with the urge to take every favorite item they own when they leave the comfort of home to explore the great beyond.

However, with increased security, and new baggage fees, traveling light has become a mantra that many travelers are adopting.

Seasoned travelers boast that they can set off on a 3-day business trip or a 10-day tour of Europe with the same 22-inch, airport-approved carry-on bag. Sound too good to be true?

Read on for the best tips in choosing travel clothes that will offer an outfit for every occasion while taking up the minimum amount of packing space.

Why Travel Light?

Traveling light is definitely the way to go, as nearly any seasoned traveler will tell you.

Many airlines are now charging for checking in bags, or for luggage that exceeds a weight limit. For example, United Airlines is currently charging $15 for your first checked bag and $25 for every bag after that. Bags that weigh more than 50 pounds can be charged a fee of $100.

Additionally, the increase in airport security has led to increased handling of your bag, which means that things are more likely to end up lost, broken or rerouted to another destination. By taking one bag as a carry-on, you will be able to keep all of your essentials safely with you.

In addition to saving money at the airport (and reducing the amount of tipping you need for porters who lug your baggage around), fewer bags also mean you can get from Point A to Point B before and after your flight as quickly and easily as possible.

But how do you get a week's worth of clothing into a single 22-inch carry-on bag?

Make your List and Check it Twice

The first step to efficiently packing clothes for travel is to make a list.

As you begin to create this roster, consider factors such as the climate of the area you are visiting and the activities you will be participating in. List each activity you plan to do each day, and what single outfit can take you from morning until night.

It is always a good idea to stick in a lightweight jacket no matter where you are headed; even better, wear it on the plane to save packing space. It is also wise to take one dressy outfit if you think there is a possibility of an evening out.

Make a note of everything you think you will need, or grab a list off a travel website. (The Universal Packing List can be found at upl.codeq.info.)

Then see if you can't cut the amount down by a third or half, and you've probably got the right amount of travel clothes for your trip.

Coordinationis Key

Once you have a list of items to include, it's time to coordinate clothes into travel fashion that will take you from day to night in style. Nearly every travel expert will recommend a single color scheme for your entire trip, which should consist of a dark color, a neutral hue and two or three accent colors.

Your neutral shade will span the seasons and climates the best, while dark colors won't show dirt as easily – a must if you will be wearing items more than once on your itinerary. Go for easy-to-coordinate combos like black and white with grey, or navy with white or khaki. Restrict your travel capsule wardrobe to four or five complementary colors that all work well together and make sure every top goes with every bottom in the ensemble. With this guideline, you should be able to put together as many as 40 outfits from twelve simple pieces by adding a few accessories to give a new look to each one.

Fabric is another important consideration in coordinating your travel clothing, since you don't want to spend your vacation at an ironing board or looking like you just rolled out of bed. The best fabrics to take are gabardine, knit, denim and twill because they hold up well and keep wrinkles to a minimum. These are also good choices for the plane so you will look as good when you arrive at your destination as when you started. Fabrics to avoid are silk and linen because they will rarely look as good once they have spent a few hours in a suitcase. It is also a good idea to choose material that will resist stains and can be washed out and left to drip-dry in your hotel room.

What to Take

Shoes are one of the biggest dilemmas in travel fashion, because these buggers are heavy, clunky and take up a lot of precious space in the suitcase. See if you can't get away with three pairs that will go with your coordinated travel capsule; a pair of comfortable walking shoes, casual flats and one pair of dressy heels. Of course, this will vary slightly depending on your destination, and you may need to throw in a pair of hiking shoes or flip-flops if the situation calls for it.

Some women like to choose the shoes first, and coordinate all of their travel clothes around these selections to ensure that no other shoes get tossed in at the last minute.

Beyond the footwear, choose clothing that can do double duty, such as a sarong that can double as a skirt, or an oversized shirt that can be worn as a cover-up for the pool.

Select fewer bottoms than tops. Many women can make it through a week of travel on two to four bottoms and half a dozen shirts. Warm-weather vacations can often get away with a pair of shorts, a pair of Capri pants, one pair of long slacks, and a dressy pair of pants or a knee-length skirt. Make them all black if you like and choose tops that will work with all four.

One fabulous black dress with the simplest lines can be dolled up or down, depending on the occasion.

A cardigan or jacket is a must in case restaurants are chilly or evenings cool down.

Accessories take up little space in your suitcase and can completely change the look of an outfit instantly. Pack away a few coordinating belts, scarves and an array of jewelry for any type of look.

Efficient packing will cut down on the amount of luggage for your next trip, saving you plenty of money and hassle. Once you have all of your items ready for packing, place travel clothing into suitcases in tight rolls instead of folding to cut down on space and wrinkles. You can also roll outfits together to make finding ensembles infinitely easier.

Traveling is significantly more challenging today than it was a decade ago, but becoming “packing savvy” with your travel clothes will get you ready to hit the road in high style and extreme convenience.

Think you can't make a quick getaway with a single carry-on bag in tow? Try these tips and see how much space you can save on your next trip!

Test Your Summer-Fashion IQSummer fashion is supposed to be simple and easy, so why is it that so many women try to dress it up and make it more complicated than it has to be? Here's a better question: Are you one of those women? Take this quiz and find out what your summer-fashion IQ really is.